Device, particularly reduced, for the elasticizing of an ear-piece for spectacles

ABSTRACT

An ear-piece assembly for connecting an earpiece to a spectacle frame. The ear-piece assembly having a box with an opening in a hinging side wall. A tie-rod hinge having first and second hinge ends and a center portion located between the first and second hinge ends, the first hinge end having at least one wing and being located inside the box and the second hinge end being located outside the box, the tie-rod hinge is slidable through the opening in the hinging side wall. The ear-piece assembly also having at least one spring with first and second spring ends and being located inside the box, the at least one spring is not surrounding the tie-rod hinge, and the first spring end is in abutment with the hinging side wall of the box and the second spring end is in abutment with the at least one wing.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field

The object of this invention is a device, particularly reduced in size,for the elasticizing of an ear-piece for spectacles. The innovationfinds particular, if not exclusive, application in the field ofspectacles production, including small metal parts and their fittings.

2. Background Art

Many frames for spectacles are known in the prior art. Some of theseframes have devices located close to their hinging for allowing theelastic fastening of ear-pieces to a part of the frame which is known asa front face (WO 9629623A (IDEAL srl Montagner Luciano)). Having such adevice located on both sides of the spectacles has the advantage ofgiving a better fit, because if the ear-pieces exert a low pressure on aperson's temples, they are easier to endure by most people, and thespectacles are more adaptable to the different anatomical shapes of eachsubject. Therefore, the firms in this field are constantly attempting tofind innovative and improved solutions, both with regard to function andsize of the devices, when compared to the preexisting devices.

For example, a traditional elasticized ear-piece, that found wideacceptance among consumers is disclosed in the European patentapplication n.79400087.7, in which an elastic hinge was described for aspectacles frame. The elastic hinge comprises a box associated sidewaysto the ear-piece, the box containing a tie-rod coaxial to the box, andin which an end portion of the tie-rod is threaded, on which is screweda bushing that ensures the positioning of a spring, while the other sideof the tie-rod is in abutment on the inside of a seat in the box.

Another system, conceptually based on the solution provided by theprevious patent application disclosure, is disclosed in the Italianutility model n.181221, which has an improved hinge for the articulationof a spectacles frame with an elastically openable ear-piece. A squaredsupport is provided in the frame, on which is inserted a support whichis also squared that makes up a shoulder for the compression of aspring.

Finally, the Italian Patent n. 1 147 198 discloses an ear-piece withelastic hinging in which an end of the ear-piece has an axially holedsmall block within which is inserted one end for the connection of thehinge. Continuing with a reduced diameter, it supports a sharp edge thatis fixed inside the borehole while on the back of the borehole is atension helicoidal spring blocked at an end by a threaded locknut. Insuch a case, it is possible for the elastic opening of the ear-piece toachieve a certain angle by an elastic yielding of the hinge-likeconnection.

The common drawbacks noticed in the above-mentioned solutions includeexcessive complexity of the utilized devices and a total oversizing ofthe device. Furthermore, notwithstanding that the above-mentioneddevices may perform their functions perfectly, they have many problemsduring the execution phase, such as the manufacturing of the manyprecision components, as well as during their assembly, eachconsiderably influencing the manufacturing time and cost. Therefore, amain purpose of the firms of the field, has been to obtain elasticizingdevices for ear-pieces that are smaller in size, offer goodfunctionality while at the same time reducing the number of components,and decrease the assembly time and costs.

In the numerous recent devices on the market that are more or lesseffective and in line with the above mentioned principles, there is asolution in which the articulation is an ear-piece with a sliding bodycontaining an elasticizing spring. In more detail, the body, has asquare cross section, in which some material has been removedlongitudinally from one part of the body to another to obtain oppositethin sheets which define a guide seat, and make up containing walls of aspring. On one side, the spring is placed in abutment on the seat, whileon the other, the spring is fastened to a tooth which protrudes outwardwith respect to the profile defined by the sliding body. Also, thedevice has a half-hull, is opened on one side and is associated with anear-piece, and on the inside of the half-hull the sliding body includingthe spring, is inserted. As a result, the tooth on the longitudinalsurface acts as a stop reference. In a traction condition, thearticulation causes the body to slide on the inside of the half-hullwhile causing the tooth to constantly grip along the base of thehalf-hull to compress the spring, and therefore recall elastically thearticulation itself.

It is also very common to fasten to the box, preassembled, on the end ofthe ear-piece, an elastic yielding group consisting of an articulationon which is screwed a tie-rod coaxial to a spring and fastened on theopposite side by a suitable bushing. As a result, it is possible tonotice at least two drawbacks, the need for an adequate size, whichinfluences the weight of the structure, aesthetic not excluded, and theuse of screws involve considerable assembling time, and thereforeconsiderable costs. For some ear-pieces, this device is consideredvaluable and the system is still valid, as seen by its wide use, but forthe others, directed to a wider public, the device would not be any moreconvenient, because of the high costs of the frame. Continuous researchin the field, in recent years, was therefore directed towardsalternative devices, designed for being produced in great quantities andmainly able to obviate the use of the spring passing the box for thefastening of the elastic yielding group.

It is also known that the French Patent n. 2 517 080 describes a hingefor a spectacles frame, in which a metal core is one with thearticulation hinged to the front face. The core is placed, passing fromone side to the other, coaxial to a box, and near one end of the box, ahousing is provided that is able to contain a helicoidal compressionspring. One side of the helicoidal compression spring is positioned inabutment to an annular edge obtained through a working internal to thebox, and the other side of the helicoidal compression spring ispositioned on the end partially inserted inside the box and which coversthe end of the core. The effect obtained by opening the era-piece,consists of the coaxial sliding of the end with respect to the boxcontaining the device. The drawbacks of this latter solution include thefact that some complex components are still required, which makemanufacturing and assembling particularly difficult, not excluding somemanufacturing costs which would considerably affect the finishedproduct.

Also in the prior art are other known improved elastic yielding devices,which are derived more or less from the previously described solutions,and which exhibit some of the problems related to the large size of thearticulation. For example, a two spring ear-piece hinging device isdisclosed in EP-A-0462936. It has a double tie-rod spring guide,surrounded by respective helical springs.

The fact is that elasticizing devices are particularly bulky, andunpleasant to see because the ear-piece shape limits and conditions thedevice's application. Another negative aspect commonly noticeable in theabove-mentioned solutions, includes the fact that it is not possible tocombine the already finished device directly with the ear-piece andinstead involve rather long assembling times. Finally, the traditionalear-pieces have a tie-rod which, because of its shape, allows forexcessive slack being inclined as a torsion, that is not much liked bythe consumer. The purpose of this invention is to obviate the mentioneddrawbacks.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This and other purposes are reached with the present invention whichsolves the above-mentioned problems by using a device for theelasticizing of an ear-piece for glasses, comprising a preassembledsmall box combined to an ear-piece by means of spot-welding. Inside thesmall box are housed two springs, the springs each having one end inabutment on the bottom of the small box, and the other end being placedin abutment with the end of a respective tie-rod. The tie-rods aresubstantially "T" shaped, each having the end opposite to the respectivespring provided with a hole to be hingeable connected to a correspondingsmall front face provided on the frame of the spectacles.

In such way, through considerable creative contribution and whose effectrepresents immediate technical progress, many advantages are obtained.First, a substantial reduction of size, mainly with regard to length, isobtained. Besides having a considerable aesthetic advantage, theinvention allows for the widening of the range of tie-rods on which thedevice can be used. A second important advantage is that because of theparticular "T" like shape of the tie-rod, negative slacks, mainlytorsion ones, very common in the linear single-tie rods are avoided,diminishing component wear. These slacks may cause stress of the partsof the spectacles, giving a feeling of discomfort to the wearer. Withregard to production of the device, an advantage is that the device iscompleted before being combined with the ear-piece, and therefore,combined to the ear-piece with a substantial reduction of manufacturingtime and cost.

In conclusion, there will be a considerable functionality-price ratiobenefit, making possible the use of the elastic yielding device in agreat number of spectacles, thus widening the base of possibleconsumers.

These and other advantages will appear from the following detaileddescription of preferred embodiments with the aid of the enclosedschematic drawings whose execution details are not to be considered asrestrictive, but only as examples.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 represents a total view as seen from an open side of a small boxof a main part of an elastic yielding device, to be combined with acorresponding tie-rod;

FIG. 2 represents a longitudinal section view of the device of FIG. 1seen respectively along the axis A--A;

FIG. 3 is a top view of small front face to be attached to thespectacles frame of the device of the previous Figures;

FIG. 4 represents a top and a total view of the elastic yielding devicecomplete with the small front face;

FIG. 5 represents always a top and partially section view of the deviceof the previous Figures in use on spectacles;

FIGS. 6 and 7, respectively, represent a lower view and a side view ofthe small box, as a part of the elastic yielding device;

FIGS. 8 and 9 represent views taken on two sides of a tie-rod providedwith a "T" like shaped end.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the figures, it can be seen that at least one ear-piece(A), particularly for spectacles, is elastically yielding for allowing,when the spectacles are worn, the opening of the ear-pieces beyond thecommon opening axis which is generally perpendicular with respect to aframe (D). In more detail, each metal ear-piece (A) of the spectacles,provides as combined on a flat side, and in correspondence with one end,an elastic yielding device (B), which interacts with a small front face(C), and in turn is engaged with the spectacles frame (D). The elasticyielding device (B) consists of a small box (1), having a rathercontained size, and an open side (1') on a fixing side on thecorresponding tie-rod (A). Along a perimetrical edge of the small box(1), always on the open side (1'), are provided three coplanar teeth ofexceeding material (1"), two coplanar teeth in the front part and onlyone in the back part. The teeth (1"), following a cycle of spot weldingby electro-welding and melting with the part of the ear-piece (A)concerned, allow for the definite and steady fastening of the small box(1). A second characteristic of the small box (1), is that alongitudinal opening (2) is provided on a hinging side wall and whichhas an edge in correspondence with the front part, and which createsperpendicular side walls (2') with respect to a surface with an obliquebase (2"). The purpose of the opening (2), is to be the axial guide of atie-rod (3), the tie-rod being in part housed inside of the small box(1), and in part protruding from the small box (1) through a flatsurface (3') that is to be hinged to the small front face (C) of thespectacles (D). The part (3') of the tie-rod (3) provides a rounded endand a central hole (4) for the hinging to the small front face (C),while on the opposite side of the tie-rod, it is possible to see aprogressive tapering, obtained from an oblique side (3"), which copiesthe guide's shape (2) in the small box (1). The tie-rod (3) has astraight shape (3'") which joins the hinging front part (3') with atransversal striker (5). The transversal striker (5) is obtainedmonolithically from the tie-rod (3) and is constructed of two wings (5')which are opposite and perpendicular to the section (3'") defining twolateral housings, resulting in the division of the small box intosections, each of which comprises an helicoidal spring (6). In even moredetail, the springs (6) are on both sides of the tie-rod (3), and areplaced with one end (6') in abutment with the bottom of the front partof the small box (1), while the opposite ends (6") are in abutment withthe corresponding wings (5').

In a possible variation, the end shape of the tie-rod (3), instead ofhaving a shape similar to a "T", can have an "L" like shape (not shown),with only one of the winds protruding perpendicularly to the tie-rod. Insuch a case, the housing obtained on the side of said tie-rod (3) willallow for only one spring (6) rather than for two. In a variationsimilar to this last case, the tie-rod (3) can be misaligned withrespect to a middle position, and instead be longitudinally movable nearan internal side of the small box (1), which allows for an increase inthe width of the space which contains the single spring (6).

In order to keep the springs (6) in slight tension while in a restposition to avoid any slack relative to the tie-rod (3), a hook (7) isprovided just before the beginning of the oblique side (3") of thetie-rod (3). The function of this hook (7) while the device is in astatic condition with the springs (6) extended, is that the hooks stopson the abutment (8) provided in the manufacturing of the small box (1)and corresponding to the guide entrance (2). During the assemblingphase, it is therefore possible to insert into the small box (1), firstthe tie-rod (3) and then the springs (6), or both the tie-rod (3) andthe springs (6) at the same time, which will result in slightlypre-charging the springs (6) in their respective housings.

By exerting an axial traction of the tie-rod (3), a condition equivalentto the opening of the ear-piece (A) beyond the common opening angle isobtained, resulting in a compression of both springs (6), whichcontrasts action. As a consequence, the ear-piece (A) hinged to acorresponding front face (C), yields elastically with respect to thefront part of the frame (D), pulling the tie-rod (3) and at the sametime compressing the springs (6) which are pushed internally against theshoulder of the front part of the small box (1).

Thus, the natural extension of the springs (6) allows the spectacles tobe properly and softly worn by modulating the pressure exerted by theear-pieces on the temples, and then, when the spectacles are no longerbeing used, allows the ear-pieces to return to a static condition.

What is claimed is:
 1. An ear-piece assembly for connecting an earpieceto a spectacle frame, the ear-piece assembly comprising:a box comprisinga hinging side wall having an opening; a tie-rod hinge having first andsecond hinge ends and a center portion located between said first andsecond hinge ends, said first hinge end having two wings and beingsubstantially "T" shaped and being located inside said box and saidsecond hinge end being located outside said box, said tie-rod hingebeing slidable through said opening in said hinging side wall; and twosprings having first and second spring ends and being located insidesaid box, and wherein said first spring ends are in abutment with saidhinging side wall of said box and said second spring ends are inabutment with a respective one of said two wings.
 2. An ear-pieceassembly claimed in claim 1, wherein said center portion of said tie-rodhinge comprises a straight section and an oblique section, said straightsection is adjacent to said first hinge end and said oblique section isadjacent to said second hinge end such that said tie-rod hinge forms alateral housing for each of said two springs.
 3. An ear-piece assemblyclaimed in claim 1, wherein said two springs are on opposite sides ofsaid tie-rod.